Try a Natural Energy Boost
By: 2SC Staff
Let’s face it – sometimes it feels like the day just drags on. When this happens, our energy levels can sometimes take a dive. In order to cope, some people reach for coffee while others turn to sweets. While these may give you the jolt you are looking for, the effects are usually just temporary. Imagine what it would be like if you didn’t need to rely on these substances and could have sustained energy throughout the day? Well, it turns out you can!
The goal is to have the kind of energy level that revitalizes you rather than makes you manic. Too much of a rise in energy (aka: a high) will eventually cause the proverbial crash. This can leave you feeling sluggish and drained. Let’s change that.
Here are five natural ways to boost your energy levels in a sustained way. Keep in mind that all of these suggestions require lifestyle adjustments in order for the benefits to take hold.
Don’t expect results overnight. Your body runs on a body clock, otherwise known as a circadian rhythm. Your body clock is one part controlled by heredity and one part controlled by lifestyle. Our goal is to influence the lifestyle part.
Are you ready? Let’s jump right in!
1. Try mindful strength training
There are folks who exercise and then there are folks who exercise mindfully. The first means you are basically going through the motions of the workout and essentially just showing up. The latter, however, means that you engaging in purposeful resistance training and paying close attention to all that you are feeling during each lift.
You don’t have to be a body builder either to realize a benefit. Simply going to the gym 4-5 times a week and partaking in awareness-based resistance training revs up your metabolic rate, which in turn boosts your sustained energy level. As an aside, this is also a great combatant against depression!
2. Eat mindful, small meals throughout the day
You may have heard of this tip before but it is worth mentioning all the same. Eating smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to 1 or 2 big meals is much healthier for you. Not only do the smaller meals assist with keeping weight off, they also help to provide a regular delivery of nutrition to the body, which is physiologically converted into sustained energy.
The trick to eating mindfully is taking the time to taste the food you are putting in your mouth, one small spoon or forkful at a time. Some people chew each bite of food 15 to 20 times in order to slow themselves down. Doing so helps to drive up awareness of how you are eating. Opt for foods that are rich in nutrients (energy), like beans pastas lentils and whole grains.
3. Drinks lots of water
Water is an essential requirement for life – meaning carbon life forms like yourself. If we you not drinking enough H20, you run the risk of dehydration, which can cause a number of health problems. If you decide to engage in mindful exercise, it will be particularly important for you to drink the appropriate amount of water. Most health experts suggest six to eight full glasses of water a day.
A mindful approach to drinking water is fairly simple. All you have to do is allow yourself to taste the water and feel its coolness as it touches your lips, tongue and throat. Think about it – have you ever really “tasted” water before? Try it next time you reach for a glass.
4. Take breaks at work
We live in a non-stop, 24-hour world. In many ways, we are also a digitally dependent society. This means that for many of us, we are “on” from the moment we walk into the workplace until the moment we leave. Too many of us skip lunches and breaks and decide to “work through” in order to get a given set of deliverables completed.
Over the course of time, this can be a real energy drainer and rob of us our vitality. It can also drive up stress levels and lead to burnout and even depression. This is why it is important to take lunches and breaks at work. In order to do this, you may need to employ the “Power of No”. You can find out more about this concept on our counseling worksheets page. Why not hang out with friends and go out for a bit? Talking about non-work related things can be kind of fun!
5. Take time to meditate
Meditation isn’t nearly as “new age” as people think. In fact, people have been using this technique to create calmness and boost energy levels for thousands of years. Meditation takes on many forms. One of these is progressive muscle relaxation or PMR. By reducing your level of stress, you help to conserve energy.
You also experience other health benefits, such as a lower heart right and healthier functioning metabolism. Another side benefit of meditation is its anti-aging benefits (believe it or not!). If you are looking for information on meditation, be sure to check out the numerous articles we have here on the website.
Final Thoughts
Energy is a kinetic force that is based on the science of physics. You receive and expend energy based entirely on the foods you eat and the activities you engage in. By tackling these two areas mindfully, you can go about the business of boosting your energy levels throughout the day and without the need for temporary pick me ups like caffeine and sugar.
There are a number of great books on the market that can help you on your quest to create a healthier, more energetic lifestyle. One such read is Get More Energy Naturally by Lance Murdock. Click on the cover below to learn more about this book and how it can help you reach your wellness goals.
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